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Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Use Hot Melt Adhesives to Cut Back on Costs

Hot Melt adhesive that's otherwise known as hot glue, is a thermoplastic adhesive. It's based on the thermoplastic's property, where it's a versatile liquid when exposed to temperatures above 180F, and becomes hard within few seconds, when exposed to temperature less than 180F. They are used in a range of industries for sealing cartons, or for assembling products, or binding books and even diapers. This technology derives its inspiration from molten wax, which was used for bonding in earlier times. Hot melt adhesive are pressure sensitive and work best when using hot melt glue guns. Many industries use this for their packing needs, or wherever harmless adhesives are necessary. It's used widely and preferred for being an Eco-friendly adhesive.


Different types of hot-melt adhesives include Ethyl Vinyl Acetate or EVA copolymers, Styrene-Butadiene-Styrene or SBS copoymers, Styrene-Ispoprene-Styrene or SIS copolymers, Polurethane Reactive or PUR, Ethylene Ethyl Acrylate copolymers or EEA. These polymers need additional material for making them perfectly adhesive. A polymer property can be enhanced by adding waxes, plasticizers, antioxidants and other materials. Textiles to labels, to disposable products, many industries utilize hot-melt adhesives from. Glue guns are deployed in most industries, for ease of application.


A hotmelt glue gun will need PVC sticks that are melted within the gun and applied over the area for sealing. This sealing is achieved through bonding polymers and can be strengthened, when one uses additives. Antioxidants are used to avoid oxidation, which occurs due to presence of unsaturated bonds in a polymer. These days, one can find both colorless and colored adhesives. Textile industry will make use of low temperature glue guns, while a typical higher temperature gun may be needed when stronger bond is required. Bonding process must be complete, before the glue is solidified. Some guns come with option to switch temperature range. Hot melt equipments needed for bonding include hotmelt glue guns, staple guns and staples, rivet tools and rivets, glue guns and glue sticks. The right tools should be chosen based on the purpose.


There are industrial adhesive glue guns that spray the adhesive through nozzles. This uses compressed air, in order to spray the adhesive. However, if one is not quick enough, the adhesive loses its tackiness and becomes unusable. There are industries that manufacture custom guns for adhesive application. Alternate industrial adhesives, to solvent based models, the various types need to be studied and chosen based on costs of operation, power used, etc. Using hot melt technology, is considered to be cost-effective and an efficient adhesive solution.


Though this method calls for installation of heat tracking systems for safety, there's not a standard design that can be used for all industries alike. Most need to be customized depending on the industry needing industrial adhesives. Finding a manufacturer serving every industry is not difficult either. When savings are considered, capital costs can be reduced to a great extent, when using hot-melt equipments. Also, floor space needed is less, when compared to solvent based adhesives. Curing times are lesser when compared to other industrial adhesives. Thus, overall cost is reduced to a great extent, when one uses hot-melt equipments and adhesives.

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